There’s nothing more certain in the summer than wasps’ arrival.
The yellow-with-black-stripes appearance makes them a bit scary, their buzzing is somewhat annoying, and they can be aggressive if provoked.
If a wasp feels especially annoyed one day, it won’t hesitate to sting you. And that can be more painful than you think.
That’s why the best wasp trap exists.
A device that catches the wasp and doesn’t let it go. To prevent it from eating on your fruits, hanging around your vegetable garden, or simply stinging you.
There are many ways to trap those wasps, though, so there are many traps to consider. Below, we go over the most common – check them up!
Our Top Recommendation for Wasp Trap!
Keep bugs, wasps, and pretty much every insect at bay with this powerful electric BLACK+DECKER Bug Zapper. Thanks to its blue UV light, it truly zaps insects to death, which attracts pesky creatures inside. It works silently but effectively without creating any mess.
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7 Best Wasp Trap Reviews in 2023
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | BLACK+DECKER Bug Zapper | • Easy-Clean Collection Tray • Non-Toxic Uv Light | |
 | Dynatrap DT1050-DEC Outdoor Insect Trap | • Power source type: Battery • It is surprisingly quiet | |
 | Raid Yellow Jacket and Wasp Trap | • Super-easy to use • Effective Wasp | |
 | RESCUE! TrapStik for Wasps | • Targets Wasps • Prevent Damage | |
 | RESCUE! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Trap | • Can catch around 20000 flies • Easy to use | |
 | RESCUE! Reusable Yellowjacket Trap | • Highly Effective • Smarter Pest Control | |
 | Darware Glass Wasp Catchers | • Bug Trap • Easy to use |
#1. BLACK+DECKER Bug Zapper
Isn’t it remarkable that a power-tool brand like Black+Decker produces wasp traps?
As you can guess, this is an electric trap. It isn’t explicitly made for wasp, as it can trap pretty much ANY insect.
Called the Bug Zapper, this trap literally zaps insects out of their life. Using a highly attractant blue UV light, it lures the insects in. Once the insects touch the electric grill powered with 2,400V, they die instantly.
The insects fall into a body collector. When it’s filled, you can easily take it off and thrash the residues off.
This combination of highly effective zapping and easy-to-clean storage is unbeatable – no mess around and no bodies to swipe off.
Moreover, it is a plug-in system. You won’t have to worry about changing the batteries or letting it receive sufficient sun rays.
WHAT’S MORE: You get a ring and chain for hanging and a long-lasting UV bulb (over 8,000-hour lifespan).
What We Liked
- Gets rid of wasps on first touch
- Attracts wasps and other insects effectively
- It is not toxic or depletable
- Comes with a handy collection tray
What We Didn’t Like
- Makes tons of noise
#2. Dynatrap DT1050-DEC Outdoor Insect Trap
Don’t like zapping insects? Then you may want to TRULY trap them instead.
Here’s where the DT1050-DEC trap from DynaTrap enters into play.
Instead of killing the insects right away, this one lures them in with the UV light, then a CO2 emitter (for mosquitoes), and the fan sucks them in.
They get trapped in a retaining cage that’s impossible to escape from. Once there, they will dry out with the fan’s help. A few days later, you can check the cage and see how many insects have died.
It works pretty much for any flying insect you want to get rid of, including annoying wasps.
The main advantage, however, comes from the zapping-free system. Thanks to the fan mechanism, it produces no noise (not even a minimal buzzing).
And what’s more important, you can hang it pretty much anywhere. Considering it comes in 4 different color options, you can make it work with any décor as well.
LASTLY: it is light enough to be portable, so you can take it anywhere you go (hiking, camping, around the house, etc.).
What We Liked
- It is surprisingly quiet
- Matches almost any house’s decoration
- Offers a portable and practical design
- Traps insects without causing direct damage
What We Didn’t Like
- It may take a few days for bugs to die
#3. Raid Yellow Jacket and Wasp Trap
If you ask ANYONE about products for trapping and killing insects, they will probably mention Raid.
And it wouldn’t be a bad choice.
The Yellow Jacket Wasp Trap is precisely what its name says. And it works wonderfully, coming from a brand dedicated to quality solutions for getting rid of insects.
It works effortlessly, using a food-based attractant. The wasps start searching for the food and, in the process get inside the bag. What they don’t know is that this bag is one-way only. Once they get inside, there’s no way out. Sure enough, they eventually die.
What makes it such a helpful trap is the ability to attract practically all stinging insects around. This includes wasps of all kinds, hornets, and even bees. Flies may also fall into it.
Once the trap has caught enough wasps, you can quickly dispose of it without doing ANYTHING. That’s how practical and easy it is to use.
What We Liked
- Super-easy to use
- Works for giant hornets too
- Attracts TONS of insects
- It can hold hundreds of insects
What We Didn’t Like
- Produces a rotten smell over time
#4. RESCUE! TrapStik for Wasps
If we had to pick the most popular of all wasp trap brands, RESCUE! would be our definitive choice.
And it is not a surprise why. When you consider the effectiveness of the TrapStik, you’ll realize it’s all deserved.
This quality trap eliminates any type of wasp, bees, daubers, and flies. The effectiveness comes from a multi-dimensional pattern that resembles their hive. This is called a VisiLure.
It stands apart from other traps because it doesn’t use any type of chemical or zapping. Instead, it is an adhesive surface covered by a grill. When they get attracted by the patterned grilled, they instantly go inside. Here, they get trapped and die.
The method is quiet, effective, and more importantly, makes no mess. Once the stick gets sufficiently covered in dead insects, you can easily thrash it out without consequences.
WORTH KNOWING: It is designed to attract ANY kind of wasp. That includes wasp queens, so you can get rid of colonies at home.
What We Liked
- The highly effective trapping mechanism
- Doesn’t produce messes
- It attracts tons of insects
- Works for weeks and even months
What We Didn’t Like
- Requires eventual replacement
#5. RESCUE! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Trap
Another Rescue product on our list! This time is a hanging fly trap.
If you are not a fan of sprays, the tested trapping method might be the way to go. Rescue fly traps are disposable and quite simple to operate. Simply cut the plastic on the top cap along the dotted line, open the cap, connect a thread to hand the trap in a preferred location, and fill the trap with water until the specified line is reached (marked behind the packet). Voila! You have completed your task.
This disposable pouch can be hung beside the trash can, compost pile, play area, or wherever else you wish. However, keep in mind that the trap will create a strong odor, so place it at least 20-30 feet away from your living or activity area.
The nicest aspect about this item is that it can lure and catch up to 20000 flies! Isn’t it surprising? House flies, blowflies, blue and green bottle flies, face flies, and other types of flies are included in this category.
You can wrap the trap in a pouch and dispose of it if it has captured enough flies, dried off, or been hanging for more than 30 days.
What We Liked
- Works well
- Fast-acting
- Hassle-free
- Traps and kills flies
- Disposable
- Made in the USA
What We Didn’t Like
- Emits horrible odor
- Some customers have complained that this product attracts more flies from the neighborhood
- Not suitable to be used near residential areas
#6. RESCUE! Reusable Yellowjacket Trap
Coming back with RESCUE!, we find the Yellowjacket Trap.
Like the name says, this is an almost perfect trap for any yellowjacket wasp and its cousins. Even hornets and flies will fall into it.
How does it work? It uses a patented attractant, lures the insects in, and then traps them in a cone.
This cone is impossible to get out from. Insects eventually dehydrate and die. No harmful chemical or zapping is going on.
One fascinating part of this trap is the intelligent design. Despite being highly attractive to many stinging insects, it doesn’t attract beneficial ones like honeybees. You can leave those alone with this trap so they can keep pollinating your garden.
And if all that wasn’t enough, the traps are all reusable as long as you replace the attractant cartridge. Each cone will last a long time before you need to get a new one.
What We Liked
- Attracts wasps surprisingly well
- Hangs anywhere pretty easily
- Enormous design hosts tons of insects
- Reusable and long-lasting
What We Didn’t Like
- Requires some effort to empty out
#7. Darware Glass Wasp Catchers
Don’t want any low-style pieces in your garden? Then go for a glass trap instead.
The Wasp Catchers from Darware are entirely made of glass with a cork lid. This adds up to a uniquely attractive design that serves two purposes: it adds style to your yard and eliminates wasps without problems.
The best of all? You only need to place bait (sugary treat or meat) inside and let it work.
You can leave the trap free and get on with your life. After a few hours or days, you can come back to the glass, and you’re likely to find AT LEAST one wasp.
The glass bottles come with their own hanger as well, so you can install them pretty much anywhere without drawbacks.
AND LASTLY: The old-school style sets it apart from any other trap. You’ll be getting twice the class to boost your garden appeal.
What We Liked
- Adds up to any place’s beauty
- Surprisingly effective at trapping insects
- Works with any type of bait
- Takes little effort to clean
What We Didn’t Like
- Fragile glass can break easily
Thing to Consider Before Buying Wasp Trap
While they all seem similar and straightforward, they sort of are not.
If you aren’t careful, you could end up with a wasp trap that not only works ineffectively but makes the place look awful. And that’s without mentioning the “dangerous” traps.
Want the right wasp trap instead? Then check what we have to tell you:
1. Trap Method
There are various traps to consider.
Some of them are sticky substances that hug the wasps until they die. Others are cylinders or inescapable bags where the wasps eventually dehydrate. And lastly, you have the consistently effective zapping types that kill wasps with electricity.
What feels more like something you’d use?
The focus is to use something that doesn’t mess if you don’t want to be cleaning. It also feels less like murder and more like defense (like trapping them instead of killing them right away like a psycho).
It’s all about personal preference here. But when it comes to effectiveness, nothing beats the super-luring and instant zapping traps.
2. Ease of Use
As you can guess, some traps are easier to use and require less upkeep.
For example, a zapping trap tends to produce a lot of dead bodies. These burnt cadavers eventually make a mess around. And worse, they get stuck inside the trap, which means you’ll have to clean it up from time to time.
Another drawback of zapping machines is that they often need batteries or outlets around to operate. That can be a bit of a turn-off for some people.
Sticky traps are also high maintenance. You will have to consistently replace the sticky cylinder, especially in areas with tons of wasp hives around.
And lastly, you get the typical trap that only captures the insects. These demand a lot less maintenance than other options. But you’ll have to prepare the trap every time before using it by adding a bait.
3. Looks and Size
As a final thing to consider, the appearance of the trap and its size come together.
You don’t want a trap that looks all bulky and takes space away from your patio, for example.
At the same time, you don’t want a piece that doesn’t combine with the area in the least, making it look awkward, to say the least.
What are you choosing then? Some glass traps combine with practically anything. Electric zapping machines are typically available in various colors and designs as well.
Whatever you pick, make sure it’s something that won’t damage your home’s appeal.
How to Use a Wasp Trap?
There’s not much to know before starting to use a wasp trap. They’re often easy to use, and pretty much anyone can set them up.
But there are still some rules you may want to follow. They could make the whole process a lot easier, save you tons of time, and prevent frustrating moments.
Here’s how to use a wasp trap without drawbacks:
- Prepare a sugary bait. This bait needs to be as sweet as possible for the wasps to feel instantly attracted. Fruit juices, honey, and water with sugar are always helpful. Those solutions that have more smell work ideally.
- Use non-toxic bait. Even though it is always enticing to use a solution that attracts and kills wasps simultaneously, it’s not a wise decision. Other animals (including your pets) may eat the solution and get sick, or worse. Pour some vinegar in the mix to keep pets and bees away.
- Place it in a high area. You may want to leave the wasp trap on top of a table or on a window. There are many low places where you could place it. But don’t do that. Instead, hang the trap as high as possible, preferably from the ceiling, beams, or trees.
- Remove dead wasps consistently. Whether they die while stuck to a cylinder, when trapped in an enclosed area, or drown in a liquid, you’ll want to be removing the dead wasps all the time. The reason is mainly that wasp can sense other dead wasps and decide not to approach the area.
- Always handle wasps carefully. Some wasps may seem like they’re dead, but their stings may still work. Be careful when handling them, especially if you are allergic. You don’t want to be stung for a silly mistake.
How to Make a DIY Wasp Trap?
Are the options above not worth it, in your opinion? Say no more!
We have the perfect wasp trap homemade plan you can follow.
It is a simple soda plastic bottle trap, easy to make, and ready in an hour or two. Here’s what to do:
1. Gather the Supplies
You will only need a scissor or knife, a bit of adhesive tape, and a plastic bottle. If you want to make a more precise cut, then bring a marker to write the line where you’re cutting. Otherwise, you can use a thread as a guide as well.
2. Calculate and Cut the Bottle
Now, you’ll want to mark half of the bottle. This is important, as you will be turning the top part downwards, so it needs to be a bit higher than half of the bottle.
Use the scissors or knife to make the cut as needed. A box cutter is also an excellent choice for this. Follow the guide as needed.
3. Prepare the Bait
Once you’ve cut the bottle in half, it’s time to prepare the bait.
This is easy. A bit of orange or another sweet juice can get the job done. Some people prefer meat, especially in the summer (this could be anything from ham to chicken). If you want to stay sugary, jam and soda can also work. Honey and vanilla are often the best lures.
4. Set the Trap Up
Now you’re almost done. You only need to finish the trap and install it.
It’s then time to wait. Wasps won’t fall right away into the trap, so you may need to be patient (go do your chores and forget about it for a few hours).
The wasps will get trapped inside after getting through the bottle top opening. Once inside, they won’t be able to get out (and eventually will die).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Feel like we left a thing or two out of the article? Don’t worry.
Below, we bring common questions with their respective answers, so you can relieve any doubts you may have:
Ans: It lures wasps using visual and smell attractants, then traps them using sticky substances, inescapable areas, or electric grids (to kill them).
Ans: If you picked one of the traps above and it’s not working, there’s a high chance you aren’t using it correctly. Follow the wasp trap instructions to the letter, and you may fix the problem.
Ans: It’s the same process as with any regular wasp trap. Just make the best bait possible, and the queen will probably fly in sooner or later.
Ans: Yes. In fact, it is an excellent idea in summer and spring, where wasps are often hungry for protein.
Ans: Yes, it can trap bees. If you want to prevent this, it’s worth pouring vinegar into the bait. It will discourage bees from getting close while keeping wasps coming in.
Conclusion
Suffice to say, wasps don’t trap themselves. If you want to get rid of these slightly annoying pests in your garden, then you’ll have to get one of the traps above.
Remember, the best wasp trap is the one that fits YOUR demands. Be careful when picking and make sure it’s something you will truly get the most from.
